Work has begun on removing the former visitor facilities at Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve after a new facility was opened in 2018.

The centre was closed last summer, following the completion of the new venue in Forest Corner, which is run by an RSPB-led consortium, working with Nottinghamshire County Council.

The old visitor centre was located within an area of internationally important forest habitat - a legally protected Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) - and had to be moved as being so close to the ancient oak trees was having a detrimental effect on them, and the structure of the woodland.

Natural England, the Government’s advisor on the natural environment, had been pushing for the buildings to be moved outside of the protected area for many years, which is one of the reasons the new centre was relocated.

The former visitor centre (Image: SHERWOOD FOREST)

Dave Parker, area manager for Natural England, said: “We have been working closely with Nottinghamshire County Council and more recently the RSPB for more than 15 years to enable this project to take place.

“The area where the former visitor centre stands is of such international importance that for both conservation and legal reasons it must be removed to reduce the impact of the structures on nearby ancient trees and the surrounding woodland habitat.

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“The removal of the centre will restore the land to a valuable mix of lowland heathland and wood pasture, providing an opportunity for rare Sherwood habitats to be re-created and expanded. It’s fantastic to see this work now progressing to benefit visitors, local residents and of course the forest’s very special wildlife.”

Once cleared, the forest’s conservation team will then begin the task of restoring the site to nature, helping to create around a further four hectares of forest for the public to explore.

This is what the site will look like once the work has been completed (Image: SHERWOOD FOREST)

The work is being carried out by Edwinstowe contractors, Woodhead, who also built the new visitor centre and car park.

The majority of the forest’s paths will be unaffected by the restoration works, but visitors are urged to take notice of signage around the site.